It is critical to understand the difference between heroin detox and addiction treatment. Detoxification focuses directly on medically assisting the individual in overcoming the withdrawal phase. An addiction treatment helps with modifying expectations and behaviors which often leads to drug use.

Heroin Addiction Treatment and Detox Options

Heroin is a highly addictive and dangerous drug. Its an opioid made from morphine, which is taken from the seed of opium plant. Generally, heroin comes from Mexico, Columbia, Southeast and Southwest Asia. It comes in a white or brown powder or a sticky dark form (Black Tar). Common street names for the drug are Horse, Smack, Big H and Hell Dust. In particular, people can inject into their veins or muscle, sniff, snort or smoke it.

Heroin Effects

When heroin enters the brain, it immediately activates the receptor sites, which controls feelings of pain, pleasure, heart rate and breathing.

Generally speaking, heroin users describe the effects of the drug as a rush of pleasurable feelings and euphoria. Other common, undesirable immediate effects include:

Dry mouth

Heavy limbs

Nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Itching

Fogginess

Semiconscious state

Long-Term Side Effects Includes:

Collapsed veins

An infection to the heart lining and valves.

Abscesses

Liver disease

Kidney disease

Lung issues

Gastrointestinal disorders.

Infectious Diseases.

Various emotional conditions.

One of the riskier effects of heroin use is an overdose. Ordinarily, an overdose occurs when the heroin use is more than the body can handle. At that point, the individual’s breathing can significantly slow or stop because oxygen is not reaching the brain (Hypoxia). In addition, Hypoxia can have short or permanent effects on the nervous system, including coma and death. Furthermore, studies have shown that heroin use can cause the loss of white matter, which affects decision making, behavior control and response to stress.

If you have become dependent on heroin or any other opioid drugs, you are very likely to experience painful withdrawal symptoms if you stop using the drug. For this reason, managing a heroin detox in a hospital is usually the wisest option.

Heroin Detox Duration and Withdrawal Symptoms

Heroin is a short-acting drug, meaning that its effects are rapid and also how fast it leaves the bloodstream. In general, withdrawal symptoms start within 5 to 12 hours after the last dose and the symptoms peak in the 2nd or the 3rd day. Most of the physical discomfort lasts 5 to 10 days, but remaining symptoms can linger much longer.

For example, typical heroin withdrawal symptoms can include:

Intense cravings

Anxiety

Depression

Stomach cramps

Sweating

A runny nose

Watery eyes

Restlessness

Sleeplessness

Diarrhea

Fever and chills

Muscle spasms and pain

Nausea and vomiting

Fast heart rate

High blood pressure

The combination of the withdrawal symptoms mentioned above might cause a heroin user to relapse. Also, the physical and mental distress of undergoing a heroin detox on your own can be harmful and unproductive. Therefore, a heroin detox in a medical hospital may be the most comfortable and successful way to overcome the withdrawal symptoms safely. At a hospital, doctors may have access to medications and specialists to manage discomfort while controlling blood pressure, heart rate, and all other vital functions.

Heroin Dependence and Addiction

Sadly, many people who become dependent on heroin or other opiates feel like there is no hope for recovery. However, that is just not true. In fact, significant advances have been made in recent years in the field of heroin detox and treatment through medical science. It’s true that heroin is an illegal narcotic that has a firm grip on the user’s brain, that can start after the first use. But, there is a significant success in particular drug treatment programs such as rapid detox. Hence, this type of heroin detox can eliminate most of the withdrawal pain and bring about lasting recovery.

Heroin can be physically and psychologically addicting. Previously, people thought of heroin users as hardened “addicts” who had no willpower and were bent on self-destruction. On the contrary, heroin abuse can affect people from all walks of life have. As many professionals can attest, one reason for this is because prescription painkillers such as Oxycontin can be a gateway to heroin use. In reality, heroin is simply cheaper and easier to obtain on the black market than prescription painkillers.

Unfortunately, the condition of heroin addiction is progressive and does not usually get better on its own. People may try to stop taking heroin for a period, but many relapses when the painful heroin withdrawal begins. This is usually a physically and challenging emotional time because symptoms of heroin detox can include intense cravings, flu-like symptoms, insomnia, anxiety, and agitation.

Physical Signs of Heroin Addiction and Abuse can Include:

Constricted (small) pupils

Sudden changes in behavior or actions

Disorientation

Lying or other deceptive conduct

Cycles of hyper-alertness followed by suddenly nodding off

Droopy appearance

Avoiding eye contact

Apathy

Decreasing attention to hygiene and physical appearance

Withdrawal from friends and family

Wearing long pants & long sleeves to hide possible needle marks

The unexplained absence of valuables

A constant need for extra money
and much more.

Heroin abusers build a tolerance, leading to the increase in the quantity and frequency of the drug use. Furthermore, the higher the tolerance, the more predominant the physical symptoms of heroin addiction can be. An efficient and comfortable heroin detox can be the first and most critical stage of recovery. Above all, a successful heroin detox can prepare the body and mind to engage fully in the success of the recovery process.

Heroin Detox Options

Outpatient:

Although you get the opportunity to live at home and keep your daily responsibilities, the success rate is meager. Relapse or return to substance use is common among heroin users in an outpatient program because there is a greater availability of opportunities surrounding them.

Inpatient Drug Rehabilitation or Rehab:

Usually a non-medical facility, which contracts doctors to manage withdrawal symptoms with oral medications. A 30-day program is considered the most traditional form of rehab, followed by outpatient care and meetings. Also, some programs incorporate Suboxone-assisted detox, which might be effective for some. On the other hand, it’s just an opioid replacement for many people.

Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT):

Some people choose an opiate substitution therapy using Suboxone or Methadone. This has become a popular treatment method, however, these are opiates. Although it can temporarily help patients avoid withdrawals from heroin, it can cause dependence and addiction. In addition, some drug treatment centers use buprenorphine-based drugs. For patients seeking to be opiate free, this is usually not an acceptable alternative because the physical dependence remains, and is often a lifelong commitment.

Medically Supervised Inpatient Heroin Detox:

Medically Assisted Detox should begin at a hospital – where a thorough physical assessment can be performed. Additionally, medical professionals are present around-the-clock to help maintain safety and comfort throughout the of withdrawal syndrome phase.

People who want to rid themselves entirely of opiates may seek other options such as a medical inpatient heroin detox or rapid drug detox. We believe that medically supervised detox in conjunction with psychological care allows patients to rid their system of toxic substances like heroin, most comfortably and efficiently.

Waismann Heroin Rapid Detox Center

Most noteworthy, there have been many studies demonstrating the safety and efficacy of rapid detox (Anesthesia-assisted Opioid Detoxification) protocol in helping patients successfully reverse their opiate dependence and return to healthy, productive lives.

One of the most successful Rapid Detox Centers worldwide is the Waismann Method ®. In fact, this method reverses opioid dependence while patients remain under sedation usually for 40 to 90 minutes.

First, patients are admitted to a full-service hospital a day before the rapid detox process. That additional time allows for careful monitoring and individualized assessment in a safe medical environment. Then, patients are usually treated on the second day, while in the ICU. A combination of medications are given while the patient sleeps under sedation; this process enables the opioid dependence reversal.

Ultimately, this accelerated opiate detoxification is a humane, safe and effective way to reverse dependency on opioid drugs. This heroin detox is better tolerated and far more comfortable than other detoxification methods. Furthermore, this type of heroin detox has fewer symptoms with a shorter duration than other withdrawal treatment options.

As the leader of Heroin Detox, we believe in providing responsible medicine. More importantly, we honor our commitment to provide the safest and most effective heroin detoxification available. As a result, Waismann Method ® has maintained a reputation for excellence by providing innovative and groundbreaking approaches to the treatment of heroin addiction. After all, we believe that patients deserve comfort, dignity, and privacy.

These are some of the reason patients fly from all over the world to undergo our heroin detox:

Almost two decades of heroin rapid detox.

One of the highest safety and success rates in the field.

Full-service accredited hospital.

Private rooms

Extensive medical examination before anesthesia detox.

Multi-Board Certified Anesthesiologist.

Various available options of heroin medical detoxification.

Post-detox recovery center.

Thousands successfully treated.

If considering the most successful or the best heroin detox program, be sure to research your options thoroughly and examine the standards experience and reputation of the treatment center. Waismann Method® Medical Group works diligently to provide the safest and most efficient rapid detox for heroin addiction, currently available.

Call 1-800-423-2482 today and learn about the many individualized options we can offer. Ask our experts why we have been the premier heroin rapid detox center, for almost 20 years. We are here for you seven days a week!

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DISCLAIMER: The text presented on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is for your information only and may not represent your true individual medical situation. Do not hesitate to consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting a qualified healthcare professional. Be advised that Opiates.com articles are derived from various sources and may not reflect your own country regulations.